For those who have shared a similar experience, you know it's never pleasant. There's never any great reasons to call your parents at 2 in the morning. Whether you're having a mental breakdown during finals week, received some sort of citation, had a scarring encounter with another person, or in my case... being hospitalized. Nobody calls home that early to have a candid chat, my parents knew it and I did too.

This past weekend, I was woken up by chest pain. Something didn't feel quite right. Not a new experience for me, and playing 4 rugby games that weekend in the annual Jackalope tournament; I figured it could've been an injury. I tried falling back asleep and couldn't, the pain worsened. I drove myself to the hospital and checked in.

The first EKG of my life took place that night, most sports physical examinations don't have doctors use an EKG. At first, the cardiologist wasn't alarmed until I tried to fall asleep again. He saw something, but didn't explain. I wasn't originally told his concerns, but was given the advice "you might want to call some people to be here with you." A harrowing statement, I called my parents, telling them I was hospitalized for heart issues and didn't have any more information. They made the usual 50-minute drive in about 20 minutes.

Two of my good friends were there, as well. We all got to listen as the cardiologist explained how heart arrhythmia comes in 3 tiers, how they've documented me having the first 2 (non-life-threatening, requiring no treatment) but are worried that a tier 3 event is what woke me. I promise I only cried once.

Basically, the tier 1 event is that my heart has a delay from the electrical impulse and when the heart physically beats. This is nothing major. The tier 2 event is that sometimes my heart will receive an electrical impulse and not beat, so it 'skips.' The tier 3 event is when there is no synchronization between the electrical impulse and beating... requiring a pacemaker to remedy.

As a result, I now have to wear a heart monitor 24/7 for the next month. I have a stress test Thursday on my heart. I have an echocardiogram on Thursday. I have an electrolyte test looking for heart blocks. Things are starting to move quickly, and some thoughts come and go into my head.

Does life end here? If they find the tier 3 event and I require a pacemaker as a result, subsequent ban from contact sports... will my life end? Things will change drastically, yes, but things move forward. I could do yoga, I suppose.

What if they don't find it? Do I live out the rest of my days in fear of the event and my heart going out of sync? The cardiologist mentioned it's possible to die from such events.

It's true. Athletes at high altitude shouldn't have high blood pressure or heart troubles at an age of 20. But health is uncertain. Most of us will meet an end from our brains or our hearts, and others in accidents and tragedies.

Don't let the finality distract you. Sometimes life is beautiful and bountiful. Other times it's short-lived plagued by misfortune. As unfair as it may be, most of us have junk genes in one way or another. Take some time today to call your parents, text your friends and siblings, and make peace with yourself. You might not always have the opportunity.